“It’s alright, just say I had a business dinner today and the client can drink a lot. Besides, she’s been acting really timid these past few days, she probably doesn’t even know I’ve turned the house upside down… One of her friends had an accident, died!”
"Really! What happened!" Fang Hongyu screamed, her voice filled with excitement and surprise.
"It's all in the newspapers. They say that Xia Xiaoyan, who is my cousin's friend, caused Gu Peng to lose his wife and children. Then, because Gu Peng's business was not legal, he was framed and went bankrupt. Xia Xiaoyan then dumped him. Gu Peng was so angry that he killed her."
"Really, that's amazing!" Fang Hongyu exclaimed, her eyes wide with delight.
"Sister Xiaoyan is very beautiful! She's also very rich and smart."
"real?"
"Of course! Otherwise, how could you have gotten Gu Peng so confused that he didn't even want his home anymore!"
"Alas! Beauty is a curse!" Fang Hongyu sighed, feigning worldliness.
Lianqing thought of Xiaoyan's appearance, her eyes gazing wistfully ahead, thinking, "It would be so cool to be a woman like Sister Xiaoyan—beautiful, rich, and able to make men swoon..."
A bus arrived, and Fang Hongyu hesitated before asking, "Are you sure you can wait for the bus by yourself?"
Lian Qing laughed easily: "Don't be silly, it's only a little bit of alcohol, I'm not drunk at all!"
"Then you take the umbrella, I'm going now, okay!"
"I don't want an umbrella," Lianqing said, shoving the umbrella back into Fang Hongyu's hand. "I don't want an umbrella. There's an awning here anyway, and I don't like carrying one."
"Be careful!" Fang Hongyu said, turning back even after she was inside the car.
Lian Qing waved to her and leaned against a large lightbox advertisement at the station. The advertisement featured a strikingly handsome young man with a seductive smile; he was advertising a mobile phone. Lian Qing loathed men who were so clean-cut and effeminate. If she could lean on anywhere else, she would never lean on a man in an advertisement that made her feel disgusted just by looking at him.
She pulled out a cigarette and lighter from her baggy jeans, shielding the lighter with her hand to prevent the wind from blowing out the flame. Suddenly, she felt incredibly lonely. Only the utterly shameful word "loneliness" could accurately describe her current mood. Loneliness is shameful, listless, pretentious, and unacceptable in life. Life can tolerate solitude, but it absolutely cannot tolerate loneliness. Lianqing couldn't help but think of her wandering singer lover, that aloof, cool, but actually quite adorable little hippie. She couldn't stand his laziness, his poverty, his lack of planning and purpose, but now Lianqing missed him terribly. They were so happy together, so compatible. The only unhappiness was his lack of a clear future. And, his bag often only contained a few coins—a terrifying thing. Lianqing desperately wanted to call him, but she didn't have his number. Was he still in Xinjiang, or had he gone somewhere else? His wandering offered no sense of security, but his love for Lianqing was real. But that love was also elusive, devoid of any sense of security. Lianqing felt a sense of loss and pain she had never experienced before. The loss came from her wandering singer, and the pain came from Gao Xiaohai and his pale-faced beauty.
The butterfly is broken (Part 7)
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Yesterday, Lianqing dragged Fang Hongyu out during working hours (for which Fang Hongyu had 30 yuan deducted from her salary because she took two hours off) to meet up with that girl named Li Xiaoyue.
When the call was made, Li Xiaoyue was very surprised. Lian Qing slowly recited the words she had rehearsed for so long: "Do you know why I know this phone number? I also know what color Xiaohai's bed sheets are, what size condoms he uses, and how many moles he has..."
"Who are you?" The voice trembled with hopeful anticipation.
“You’ll know once you get out. We should have a good talk to help you understand your boyfriend’s character. I believe it will be beneficial for your future.”
After hanging up the phone, Lianqing asked Fang Hongyu, who was sitting next to her, "How did it go? Do you think she'll come?"
"It definitely will, and it'll be here very soon!" Fang Hongyu said smugly, a lollipop dangling from her mouth.
"Was what I said just now okay?"
"Great!"
Do you think she will tell Gao Xiaohai?
"What's the point of telling him? You're not going to be friends with him anymore anyway." Fang Hongyu took the lollipop out of her mouth and looked at Lian Qing with great suspicion: "Could it be that you've really fallen for that dullard?"
“He’s not stupid at all, he’s very cunning!” Lianqing pulled Fang Hongyu, who was sitting on the steps, up, and the two of them started walking towards the place they had agreed to meet Li Xiaoyue.
"Is this okay?" Lianqing asked Fang Hongyu, who was sitting next to her, while holding the powder box.
"Why are you so nervous? You two, don't be fooled by the fact that she has Gao Xiaohai now. You are the one who is in control. She is anxious about losing him. You have nothing and nothing to be afraid of. If Gao Xiaohai comes back, it's like he's been given away for free. If he doesn't, we'll be in the same situation now. Even if the sky falls, it'll still be the same."
The waiter brought over the two sundaes they had ordered: a strawberry sundae by Lian Qing and a vanilla sundae by Fang Hongyu. The two girls then diligently began to devour their desserts.
"Coming, coming!" Lianqing's hand was tugging violently at Fang Hongyu's skirt under the table.
"You're here, so calm down." Fang Hongyu glanced up at the fair-skinned, pretty woman standing by the door, then said authoritatively, "Not as pretty as you! Too ordinary."
"real?"
"Seriously, there are tons of people with her looks."
Lianqing sat up straight with a sense of relief and waved to the woman who was looking around.
Li Xiaoyue walked over with a wary look in her eyes, and then slowly sat down opposite Lian Qing, still on guard.
"Miss, what do you need?"
"A cup of coffee, please," Li Xiaoyue said, slowly placing her bag on the chair. "You were looking for me?" Her gaze was cold; she seemed two or three years older than Lian Qing and the others. She'd heard that Li Xiaoyue had taken a leave of absence from her job in mainland China and come to Shenzhen to look for work, and that she was a college graduate. Asphalt analysis suggested this was her only advantage in defeating herself.
Fang Hongyu was being very disrespectful, talking to the waiter without paying any attention to the table. Lian Qing kicked her angrily.
"Is there something you need?" The tone was cold and unapproachable.
Lian Qing became a little nervous. Li Xiaoyue didn't seem flustered as she had imagined. Instead, Lian Qing felt a bit flustered. She herself found it strange. Why had she invited her here? Composing herself, she put on a fighting stance. Just thinking about Gao Xiaohai was enough to get her into a fighting mood: "I invited you here today to tell you about Gao Xiaohai and me."
"What do your affairs have to do with me? What do they have to do with me? Now, Gao Xiaohai and I are on good terms. His past has nothing to do with me."
The waiter brought the food over: a cup of coffee, a banana split, and a pineapple split. Lianqing stared at the food in front of her, dumbfounded, and said, "You brought the wrong things. We didn't order these."
Fang Hongyu said, "I ordered it." Then she placed the banana boat in front of Lian Qing.
Lianqing's heart ached terribly. She had agreed to pay today, and these two items were quite expensive—enough to buy a decent dress. Lianqing glared at Fang Hongyu, watching her happily pop a red cherry into her mouth. Then, slowly raising her head, she said, "If it's not a problem, what are you doing here? Do you want us to keep you company while you have coffee?"
Upon hearing Fang Hongyu's words, Lianqing suddenly straightened her back.
Li Xiaoyue feigned impatience and said, "Just say what you want to say, I have other things to do."
"Going home to cook for Gao Xiaohai? It's not worth it."
Fang Hongyu's mouth was sharp, and Lianqing was delighted with her impromptu performance; these lines hadn't been part of their rehearsals. Lianqing couldn't wait to show off, so she recited what they'd rehearsed for so long: "I dated Gao Xiaohai for a long time until you came along. Of course, everyone has the right to choose, but he's so irresponsible..." Lianqing forgot what she was going to say next, "...I bought all his underwear, and you saw the dried flowers on his coffee table, right? I bought those too."
"We'll give it back to you," the girl said, suppressing her tears.
"He treated me like this today, and I can't guarantee he won't treat you the same way tomorrow. You'd better be careful. I'm here today just to remind you. I once had an abortion for him..."
When the girl finally couldn't hold back her tears, the two girls sighed regretfully and left. They burst into laughter as soon as they came out. Lianqing laughed until she almost cried. Fang Hongyu bent over and said, "Our food today cost over two hundred yuan, let her pay the bill."
"Exactly, just to piss her off! Look at her, tears are already streaming down her face..."
Have you ever really been a child?
"I lied to her."
"Lunch? Are you hungry?"
"I'm so full."
"Me too."
The two girls left happily, laughing and joking.
The woman sat alone in the coffee shop for a long time, tears streaming down her face. Just as Lianqing and the others had hoped, she had suffered a devastating blow. Gao Xiaohai was the one and only good man in her heart, a man for whom she would give up everything. Most people come to Shenzhen for their future and career, but her reason was simple: for her childhood sweetheart, Gao Xiaohai. Now, her world had suddenly collapsed.
But she came for him, abandoning her family and career to come to him. She is not easily defeated or given up. What else does she have besides him now? She can't possibly pack her bags and go back to the mainland, where there are no jobs.
Li Xiaoyue sat by the window in the coffee shop, unable to cope with the sudden blow; it truly felt like the world had collapsed.
Outside the window, the city bustled with traffic, a vibrant scene. But Li Xiaoyue remained adrift, clinging to nothing but Gao Xiaohai, or at least finding nothing else of note.
The butterfly is broken (Part 8)
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Lianqing's prank and revenge didn't last a day before Gao Xiaohai completely extinguished her pleasure. Lianqing could never forget Gao Xiaohai's words on the phone: "Who do you think you are! You piece of trash! What man would want a woman like you who sleeps with someone the moment he sees her! Let me tell you, you can't hurt us. I told Xiaoyue everything, and she forgave me, forgave me for playing around with a couple of women when I was lonely. Nothing happened between us! Just relax and stop acting like a witch, doing shameful things. It only makes people more disgusted with you..."
Lian Qing trembled, wanting to curse, but before she could utter a single word, the phone was hung up. Having no other choice, she arranged to meet Fang Hongyu again that evening and went to Gao Xiaohai's house.
The outcome was far from pleasant. Lian Qing felt like she had practically asked to be humiliated. Gao Xiaohai was so cold, as if they had never slept together; even people who hadn't slept together wouldn't be so indifferent and verbally abusive. Li Xiaoyue blocked the doorway, speaking with the air of a victor: "Before, when I wasn't around, he did some outrageous things outside, messing around with some promiscuous women. I didn't blame him. Don't bother us anymore; you can't sow discord between us. Xiaohai also told me that all you want is money, compensation. We won't give you the money; the rest is up to you." Then she slammed the door shut.
Lian Qing was stunned for a few seconds, and then she and Fang Hongyu, who was equally stunned, stared at each other in surprise for a long time. This woman had really attained enlightenment and transcended the mundane world. She could calmly accept her man's infidelity and then form a united front.
Lian Qing started kicking the door viciously, her head spinning with rage. The door was kicked loudly, and Fang Hongyu also kicked it, but the door didn't open. However, the security guards came up; it was Gao Xiaohai who had called the security guards downstairs.
Lianqing shouted, "They stole my things! A vase, dried flowers, and a despicable couple were living together in it. They stole my things! The vase was on the coffee table!"
The door opened, and a vase and dried flowers were taken out, then the door closed again. The two security guards made a polite gesture: "Please leave; you are not welcome here."
Unwilling to leave so dejectedly, but the security guard's uniform still held some intimidation. Lianqing and Fang Hongyu exchanged a glance, then reluctantly left. Lianqing carried a vase and a bunch of dried flowers. Suddenly, she turned back and smashed the vase against the door with a crisp shattering sound. Then she strode quickly towards the elevator.
Then they went to a bar. The alcohol and smoke burned in their bodies, making everything less concrete. It was a place where people could vent, drop all pretenses, and reveal their true selves—a wolf? A leopard? A snake? All true faces could be revealed here without restraint, the beastly side. Of course, you could also add a touch of angelic innocence as a disguise.
The air was dirty and murky, filled with an ambiguous smell, and the bestial desires hidden behind people's faces ran rampant.
Lian Qing quickly became drunk, the music was very loud and very stimulating. She and Fang Hongyu each held a cigarette, twisting and turning in the crowd who were completely absorbed in their own world, exhausting their remaining strength. The strange lights illuminated their infatuated faces, as unpredictable as the night.
Gradually, Lianqing found it intriguing as a pair of man's hands tentatively roamed around her waist. She turned her head and looked at the man coldly with a provocative gaze. He was a captivating fellow, with a handsome appearance and a touch of mature masculinity. He wore thin-rimmed glasses, and his short, buzz-cut hair and strong physique exuded masculine strength.
Lianqing quickly pulled her head back, twisting her alluring body even more desperately, her form as seductive as a water snake. The man's hands became increasingly unrestrained, skillfully and gently caressing Lianqing's waist and buttocks in a captivating way. A beastly desire slowly surfaced. Finally, they left the dance floor in each other's arms, kissing passionately in the corridor, Lianqing clinging tightly to the charismatic man before her like a water snake. The air was thick with the mingled smells of alcohol and smoke, filled with the disoriented, lost desires of the people. In the dim light, everything felt mysterious and eerie.
They may not have originally intended to do it in such a dirty and unclean place as a bathroom, but they had nowhere to hide; they had become two wild beasts. The man decisively pulled Lianqing into the bathroom; his strong arms were unlike any she had ever experienced with a man, a feeling that could release her primal desires.
In the men's restroom, he carried her into a small stall. She felt a little scared and suddenly wanted to escape, but he grabbed her and kissed her passionately—the sensation was too stimulating. His hands roamed over her body like snakes. Soon, her pants were gone. She was annoyed that he had thrown them on the dirty floor. Lianqing picked them up, trousers and underwear, hanging them one by one on the hook. Just then, she felt a burst of pleasure coursing through her body, and she moaned loudly, without any pretense, a natural moan. Then the man picked her up again and made her sit on his lap. The man's heavy breathing mingled with the sounds of the toilet flushing next door, the sound of urination, and the stench—all of which intensely stimulated the two people who had temporarily forgotten themselves. Someone knocked on the door and shouted, "Hey buddy, take it easy, don't get carried away!" With the shout, the climax came like a flash flood. Lianqing heard a strange cry bursting from her own throat. After the peak, she was completely exhausted. The man closed his eyes, grinned, and began to breathe heavily and loudly. He trembled as he ejaculated inside Lianqing's body.
I hurriedly pulled up my pants, and suddenly realized how filthy this place was, so filthy that I didn't want to stay there for even a minute longer.
"How can I contact you?" the man asked, still wanting more.
Lianqing ran away quickly, seemingly as a way to maintain her pride. Ultimately, who is playing whom? Whoever can let go is the one playing, and whoever can't let go is the one being played.
In the blurry bathroom mirror, Lianqing saw her disheveled hair and flushed face, her eyes still nervously struggling with desire. An unfamiliar expression. Lianqing turned her head; it wasn't her. She ran out, bumping into a boy who had just entered at the door, causing him to stumble. The boy immediately became excited: "Hey girl, wanna play a little longer?"
Back on the dance floor, she felt it was all meaningless. A hand landed on Lianqing's shoulder; her enthusiasm for the day had run out. Annoyed, she turned around to scold the person who had disturbed her, only to see Fang Hongyu's face, strangely obscured by the lighting: "Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you!"
Lian Qing shook her head, returned to her seat, picked up her wine bottle, tilted her head back, and took a big gulp. She felt that she was truly mature now.
The butterfly is broken (Part 9)
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At this moment, Lian Qing leaned against the advertising box, toying with the lit cigarette in her hand, her eyes staring indifferently into the distance. Her short, boyish hair was slightly messy, and she wore a large canvas backpack, a black tight-fitting sweater, and baggy jeans. A thin, long green scarf around her neck offered little protection from the cold. Several small silver earrings on her ears gleamed conspicuously under the lights.
"Hey, want me to take you home?" It was that handsome man with glasses. Lianqing realized he was following her and couldn't help feeling a little smug. The man was dressed very elegantly and had a naturally calm expression; perhaps he was an interior designer. But whatever he was, Lianqing didn't want to get entangled with him anymore. She wanted to take control of the situation. She wouldn't associate with such a "frivolous" person. If they were playing around, it would be her playing him, even though he was much older than her.
Lianqing never imagined that the man she met in the bar would completely enter her life and cause such a sudden event. The encounter and the outcome were both so abrupt and unexpected.
A car pulled up, and Lianqing threw her cigarette butt on the ground, stomped it out with her platform shoes, and got in without a second thought. She felt she had truly grown up. Besides, there were so many lovable men in the world, especially in this city, full of highly educated young people with good qualities in all aspects, including many lovable men. Gao Xiaohai was nothing special now. But no matter how insignificant he was, he had still hurt her, and she would seek revenge to vent her resentment.
The next day, following her and Fang Hongyu's plan, Lianqing posted a message on the company's intranet, posing as a victim to expose Gao Xiaohai's manipulation of women's feelings and his wanton trampling on women's dignity. Even if she couldn't bring him down, she had to make him look bad. Before Gao Xiaohai could frantically search for her, she submitted her resignation and left the company.
As she left, she overheard her colleagues whispering amongst themselves; a palpable tension and excitement hung in the air. Lian Qing felt a surge of smug satisfaction. Trying to play her? Not so easy!
That day, Lianqing and Fang Hongyu went to a modeling agency for an interview.
After they came out, the two of them were laughing so hard they were bent over. They were already at an age where they loved to laugh, and today's prank only added to their already exciting future.
The butterfly shattered (Part 10)
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